Somali Referee Omar Artan Appointed To Officiate UEFA Super Cup

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somali referee Omar Artan has been appointed to officiate the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League champions Aston Villa, in a landmark moment for Somali and African football.

UEFA announced on Thursday that Artan will take charge of the match scheduled for Aug. 12 in Salzburg, Austria, following consultations with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The appointment comes under a cooperation agreement between UEFA and CAF aimed at strengthening collaboration in areas including referee development and exchange programmes.

Artan, who has been on FIFA’s international referees list since 2018, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading match officials. He officiated the second leg of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League final and was named CAF Men’s Referee of the Year in 2025.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin described Artan as an “excellent young but already experienced referee” who had proven himself at the highest levels of African football.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the appointment was a source of pride for Somalia and the African continent, describing it as recognition of Artan’s world-class refereeing credentials and international standing.

The announcement comes days after Artan was unable to participate in FIFA Club World Cup-related duties in the United States after being denied entry by U.S. authorities over what border officials described as vetting concerns. The decision sparked criticism from sports officials and public figures, including former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and drew widespread support for Artan in Somalia and across Africa.

Upon his return to Mogadishu, Artan received a warm welcome from football officials, government representatives and supporters who hailed him as a symbol of Somalia’s growing presence in international sport.

His UEFA Super Cup appointment is likely to be viewed as one of the most significant achievements by a Somali football official, placing him at the center of one of European football’s premier annual fixtures.

For Somalia, where football remains the country’s most popular sport despite decades of conflict and limited sporting infrastructure, Artan’s rise has become a source of national pride and inspiration for a new generation of athletes and officials seeking international recognition.

The appointment also highlights growing efforts by football’s governing bodies to expand opportunities for elite African referees on the global stage and deepen cooperation between European and African football institutions.